Trypan Blue Staining in Vitreoretinal Surgery

Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy of trypan blue for staining the internal limiting membrane (ILM) and epiretinal membranes (ERM) in vitreoretinal surgery. Design: Prospective noncomparative case series. Participants: Fifty eyes of 50 patients with macular pucker (n = 22), macular hole (n = 18), or a combination (n = 2), proliferative vitreoretinopathy (n = 5), or diabetic retinopathy (n = 3). Methods: Trypan blue 0.2% was used to stain the ILM or ERM during vitreoretinal surgery. Main Outcome Measures: The intraoperative visibility of the membranes was scored as poor, moderate, good, or excellent. Results: The application of trypan blue onto the ILM or the ERM resulted in a useful bluish staining, facilitating the identification, delineation, and removal of the membranes in all surgeries. No residual staining or adverse effects related to the dye were observed. Conclusions: Trypan blue stains both ILM and ERM and might be an useful tool in vitreoretinal surgery. © 2003 by the American Academy of Ophthalmology.